Juan Martin del Potro is still in the hunt for a place in the Nitto ATP Finals. The Argentine kept his chances of playing in the year-end tournament alive by defeating Joao Sousa 6-2, 6-2 in his opening match at the Rolex Paris Masters on Wednesday. Still, it's his health that remains his top priority.

"I'm tired, but I'm still on track to achieve my goal for the year," del Potro said after reaching the last 16 of the final ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the season, where he'll face Robin Haase on Thursday. "Five weeks ago, I was [No. 47] in the Emirates ATP Race to London. Today, I'm in a different situation, but my ultimate goal remains the same: to finish the year healthy."

Del Potro is proud of his recent form and values the fact he's been able to stay active. Since his semi-final run at the US Open, del Potro has played in Beijing, Shanghai, Stockholm, Basel and now Paris, where he's competing for one of the two finals spots in London. His busy schedule is in stark contrast to past years, when injuries plagued him and he cut his seasons short.

"It's the first time in several years that I've been healthy enough to play this many tournaments in a row," del Potro said. "Last year, I didn't even play here. I think I've played more matches than anyone since the US Open this year."

Del Potro has taken steps to maintain his conditioning and to guarantee his longevity. The 29-year-old, who has undergone four wrist surgeries, is aware he needs to be in peak physical condition to keep pace with the top players on the ATP World Tour.

"I’ve been working on my stamina and in other areas to stay in shape and to keep evolving," del Potro said. "I feel like I'm improving every week since my return. I happen to compete in a very competitive era. It's a privilege to have the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as rivals, but in another era, I might have had more Grand Slam wins on my record."

With momentum now on his side and health issues finally behind him, del Potro relishes the chance to play in the Nitto ATP Finals if he can clinch his spot this week.

"I would love to be in London," del Potro said. "I'm making a very strong effort to be there; I'm putting myself through a lot, but I'm enjoying every minute of it. After that, I can think about vacation, but if I can finish this year in good health, I'll be very excited for 2018."

Argentine favourite to next meet Dimitrov or Isner
Juan Martin del Potro continued his march towards a Nitto ATP Finals spot on Thursday when he defeated Robin Haase of the Netherlands 7-5, 6-4 for a place in the Rolex Paris Masters quarter-finals for the third time (also 2009, 2013).
The popular Argentine, who was at No. 47 in the Emirates ATP Race To London prior to the start of the US Open, is now up to No. 10 on 2,595 points — only 20 points behind Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta (2,615), who sits in the last automatic qualification berth.
Del Potro, the No. 13 seed this week, has gone 20-4 since 28 August and will now look to move past Carreno Busta with a victory on Friday over sixth-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov or ninth seed John Isner of the United States.
In recent weeks, Del Potro has captured his 20th tour-level title at the Intrum Stockholm Open (d. Dimitrov) and finished runner-up at the Swiss Indoors Basel (l. to Federer). He has a 38-15 mark on the season.
The 29-year-old Del Potro has qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals on four previous occasions (2008-09, ’12-13), highlighted by a run to the 2009 title match (l. to Davydenko). The season finale begins at The O2 in London on 12 November.

Argentine will start 2018 season in Auckland
Some players start their off-season on a quiet court with their coaches and trainers. Other players prefer a crowd.
Juan Martin del Potro started his preseason activities on Saturday under a sunny sky and in front of more than 1,000 fans in Posta Natural in Tandil, Argentina. Delpo invited his fans via Twitter, asking them to come watch his practice and donate non-perishable food for the Fundación Banco de Alimentos de Tandil.
Watch Del Potro Launch His 2017 Preseason

“The idea was to give back to Tandil a bit of the love and support that I receive throughout the year and to help out the foundation 'Banco de Alimentos'. It was an amazing day and everyone had a great time,” Del Potro said.
Group

Fans appreciated the opportunity, cheering after every rally between Del Potro and his sparring partner Alejo Prado. Del Potro will open his 2018 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will compete at the Australian Open for the first time since 2014. The 29-year-old Del Potro finished 2017 at No. 11 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

Juan Martin del Potro drew on his experience to overcome #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Wednesday for a place in the ASB Classic quarter-finals.

The World No. 12 struck just six winners, and committed 11 unforced errors, in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Shapovalov in 65 minutes. Shapovalov, who hit 20 winners and made 40 unforced errors, had previously beaten Del Potro in August 2017 en route to the Coupe Rogers semi-finals in Montreal.

“I was surprised by the match today,” said del Potro. “I didn’t expect to play at this level in the first match of the year. But I’ve been working hard to play this tennis and hopefully I can still improve in the next matches.

“If he has a good day, he is very dangerous as a lefty, he serves well and volleys. Denis played better than me in the Montreal match, but today I broke him three times to love and that was the key. I served well throughout the match.”

Shapovalov said, “I was struggling on my serve a little bit, but I felt pretty decent off the ground – expect for those three games. I was a little bit too excited and missed a lot. I’m pretty optimistic for the next tournaments. He served massive and played incredibly well. Unfortunately, I didn’t have many chances today.”

Del Potro is competing at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament for the first time since 2009, when he beat Sam Querrey for the Auckland title as a 20-year-old. The victory, nine years ago, propelled him up to No. 6 in the ATP Rankings. “It’s so nice to come back to this tournament,” said del Potro. “Many Argentinean fans came to support me in this match and the crowd was full.”

The 29-year-old del Potro will now face Russian Karen Khachanov for the first time. Khachanov knocked out sixth-seeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-2, 7-6(4) earlier in the day. “Karen is as tall as me and his forehand is very powerful, so I will see if I can play at the same level as today,” said del Potro.

In the final match of the day, South Korea’s Hyeon Chung broke a two-match losing streak against fourth-seeded American John Isner, the 2010 and 2014 titlist, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-2 in two hours and 25 minutes. Chung, the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals champion, struck 15 aces to Isner’s 30 in the pair’s third FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting. He now plays David Ferrer, the 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013 titlist.

Nine years ago, when Juan Martin del Potro marched to his first ASB Classic title, the Argentine was the #NextGenATP of his time. Del Potro was 20 years old, armed with a hammer-like forehand and quickly climbing the ATP Rankings. His 2009 title in New Zealand – then his fifth ATP World Tour title – propelled him to No. 6.

In some ways, much has changed since Delpo hoisted the trophy in Auckland. He's 29 now, far removed from #NextGenATP, and four wrist surgeries have altered his expectations. “If I play healthy all year that would be great to me. I would like to play around 20 tournaments during the season and that will be my first challenge for this year,” Del Potro said in an interview with SKY Network Television (NZ).

But in other ways, it's like 2009 again for the 6'6” Argentine. He still has the thundering forehand, and he's still hovering around the Top 10. Delpo, who's returning to Auckland this week for the first time since his title run, is No. 12 and will rejoin the Top 10 if he wins his second Auckland title.

You May Also Like: The Two People Who Push Muller To Success

“I'm not the rising star anymore after 10 years but it could be a good chance to see how my body is at the beginning of the year, to see how my tennis is before the Australian Open. Also if I do well I will get into the Top 10, which is a good motivation,” Del Potro said.

“I have great memories from 10 years ago when I won the tournament... I'm looking forward to showing my best tennis and enjoying it with the fans, too.”

The ASB Classic will be Delpo's first tournament of the 2018 season. He finished 2017 as if he were a Top 10 player. Delpo went 38-16 on the year but he finished on a 20-5 run. His year-end ranking of No. 13 was his highest year-end finish since 2013 when he finished No. 5.

“I am feeling good. I am in good shape. I've been working hard for four weeks at home,” said Del Potro, who started his off-season in front of more than 1,000 fans in his hometown of Tandil. “I would like to have a complete season this year... My wrists are OK, and I'm having good days on court and I think I will be in good shape.”

Del Potro faces #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Wednesday night. The 18-year-old Canadian upset Delpo in their only prior FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting, at the 2017 Coupe Rogers in Montreal.

Juan Martin del Potro, who will return to the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time since August 2014 next week, swept through to the ASB Classic semi-finals on Thursday night.

The popular Argentinean star, competing this week at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament for the first time since his 2009 title (d. Querrey), struck 11 aces and didn’t face a break point in a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Russian Karen Khachanov in one hour and 33 minutes.

"I took all of my chances and I played solidly on my service games," said del Potro. "I ran a lot today, more than yesterday, which is good for my physical condition and I’m sure I will run more tomorrow against David. It will be a good test for me and I’m very focused to reach the final here."

The second seed will now prepare for a semi-final against seventh seed and four-time former champion David Ferrer on Friday. Ferrer leads 6-4 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head, but del Potro has won their past two matches (2013 Wimbledon and 2016 US Open).
You May Also Like: High-Five For Ferrer In Auckland?

"We have played many times and we always content good matches," said del Potro. "Nobody cares about David’s ranking, as he is a great champion of the sport. It doesn’t matter about his ranking or mine, I just think it will be a good match for the fans."

Del Potro, who began the week at No. 12 in the ATP Rankings, will rise to No. 10 on Monday – his first Top 10 position since 4 August 2014 (at No. 10).

In a tight first set against No. 48-ranked Khachanov, Del Potro won the sixth point of the tie-break for a 4/2 lead, then broke in the second game of the second set.

Watch Live On TennisTV

Watch Full Match Replays

Top Three Doubles Seeds Advance To SFs
Top seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic lost just nine of their first-service points in a 7-6(3), 6-3 win over Daniel Nestor and Donald Young in 72 minutes for a place in the semi-finals. They will now challenge third seeds Santiago Gonzalez and Julio Peralta, who were 6-1, 7-6(4) victors over Robert Lindstedt and Franko Skugor in 80 minutes.

Juan Martin del Potro, the charismatic Argentinean star, earned a shot at winning his second ASB Classic trophy on Friday after coming through a keenly contested 11th meeting against four-time former champion David Ferrer.
Already assured of a return to the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings on Monday, the second seed played with great focus to beat seventh-seeded Ferrer 6-4, 6-4 over one hour and 46 minutes in the Auckland semi-finals.
The 29-year-old will now play 2016 champion Roberto Bautista Agut, the fifth seed, in their fifth hard-court meeting. Del Potro, who leads their series 3-1, has won their past three FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings.
“I’m happy to have reached the final again, playing good tennis against one of the toughest guys on Tour,” said del Potro. “I’m excited to play the final tomorrow. It will be difficult for me, for sure. I’d like to repeat my 2009 title, but Bautista Agut is a dangerous player, with experience in finals and he has beaten me in the past.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: ¡Vamos! Bautista Agut Escapes In A Thriller
In a tense opening, Del Potro and Ferrer exchanged early breaks, but it was the Argentine who gained the advantage by seizing his second break point chance in the seventh game of the 50-minute first set.
Ferrer continued to fight, but was unable to seal two break points in the fourth game, and a further three in the eighth game of the second set. Del Potro did not waste his opportunity, crunching a forehand winner to break to 15 for 5-4.
“The difference was a couple of points and I got lucky to break his serve twice in the first set,” said del Potro. “Then I saved break points in the second set and played good tennis, with strokes down the line. I had to take risks against David, who is a fighter. I am tired, but I will be okay for tomorrow and have time to recover.”
The 35-year-old Ferrer is now 31-9 at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament, where he captured four trophies (2007, 2011-13).
Del Potro beat Sam Querrey for the 2009 Auckland title – his last appearance at the event – and looks to improve his 20-9 record in tour-level finals (16-9 in hard-court title matches).
He will return to the Top 10 at No. 10 next week for the first since 4 August 2014 (No. 10).

If you want to be inspired and witness unbreakable faith; a steadfast resilience that awakens when your very livelihood is under threat, listen to, and watch, Juan Martin del Potro today.

The splintered career of the Argentine star evokes, unlike almost any other tennis player over the past decade, not only great admiration, but also genuine and universal sympathy for what has happened; what might have been and for how, in spite of repeated setbacks and long periods of doubt, his charm and personality remain unaltered.

Almost nine years after he first broke into the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings, del Potro has overcome all manner of hardships and is deservedly back among the sport’s elite competitors.

The tennis-playing life of del Potro, who is one of the greatest talents of the past 15 years, can be categorised with an asterisk as: before (multiple) wrist surgery, and after. The common dominator, through four operations over five years (2010-2015), is del Potro’s ability to crush the ball off every shot. All except one stroke is now hit flat, ever since 4 May 2010, the day Dr Richard Berger, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minneapolis, conducted right wrist surgery.

Mark I (2005-2010). For five years as a pro, del Potro dipped into every backhand, hyperextended his wrist and made contact with tennis balls that soon fizzed back flat. He soared into the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time on 6 October 2008, the following year aged 20 he captured the US Open title (d. Federer), finished as the runner-up at the Nitto ATP Finals (l. to Davydenko) and soon rose to a career-high No. 4 (11 January 2010). With an 8-3 record in tour-level finals, thoughts of a ‘Big Five’ arose, yet, privately, pain in his right wrist began to surface.

Mark II (2011-2014). Upon his return from surgery, Del Potro set himself early, catching his racquet on the backswing and accelerated down, striking a low, slow one-handed slice backhand to out-manoeuvre, rather than overpower his opponent. Having fallen as low as No. 485 in the ATP Rankings on 31 January 2011, within 12 months he’d been restored to the Top 10 (30 January 2012) and two years later he’d got back to a career-high No. 4 (27 January 2014). There remained a lot of apprehension that mis-hitting or over-hitting could trigger the pain to return.

Mark III (2015 to present). Over the past three years, Del Potro’s forehand and serve still give his opponents sleepless nights, but they are now executed with perhaps even greater power and accuracy as compensation for three further wrist surgeries on 24 March 2014 (joint), 20 January 2015 (ligament) and 18 June 2015 (tendon) that have rendered his double-handed backhand the weakest part of his game.

Del Potro could have easily thrown in the towel when, at No. 1,045 in the ATP Rankings on 8 February 2016 and after only two tournaments in the previous 24 months, he began yet another comeback. In eight of his past 14 years as a professional, the “Tower of Tandil” has undergone two or three hours of treatment every day. The gentle giant does it to keep playing the sport he loves at the very highest level.

Today, the star known universally as “Delpo”, has returned to the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time since 4 August 2014 (No. 10). It is a product of consistency in training and on the match court, of determination and application, and of emotional upheaval and sacrifice. Every athlete has one career. Del Potro is making the most of his.